Victorian News
Andrew Thompson
Tweed target for Cup victor
WARRNAMBOOL Cup winner
Harvey Bale is heading for the
Galaxy at Tweed Heads.
Trainer Michael Gibbons said the
two and a half-year-old dog would
improve with age after claiming the
$28,000 final over 450m at Wannon
Park in early May.
Harvey Bale’s task was assisted in
the Warrnambool Cup when
shortpriced favourite Brumby Lad
missed the start hopelessly from box
two.
It left Harvey Bale and Lethal
Weapon to fight out the finish, with
the Gibbons-trained sprinter
triumphing by three-quarters of a
length.
Orochi filled third place.
Gibbons was ecstatic with the 25.26- sec victory,
which took Harvey Bale’s record to 19 wins and 17
minor placings from 46 starts.
“As soon as I saw him get out of the box I thought
`they’re not going to catch him’,’’ Gibbons said.
“I think the best is ahead of him. It’s his third or
fourth race racing against the best in Victoria. It’s
going to be a long drive home.’’
The trainer heaped praise on the Warrnambool track
and crowd.
“At any other track in Victoria all you get is owners
and trainers. The people here are absolutely terrific.
“I’d like to thank the club because this is the best club,
Handler Shaun Coulson and Warrnambool Cup winner
Harvey Bale.
Picture courtesy Warrnambool Standard
no doubt, around Victoria.”
Handler Shaun Coulson said he could not be much
happier with the dog’s run. The win continued owner
Paul Wheeler’s outstanding record in the cup.
On the same program, Koroittrained speedster That’s
Critical scored a slashing win in the $73,000 Macey’s
Bistro Classic final (450m).
After finishing unplaced in the Silver Chief final and
having to be scratched from the South Australian
Derby final when equal favourite, the dog finally got
all the breaks from box six in the classic final.
Deadly Bob and Dixie Dunbar were the quickest to
begin in the $50,000-tothe- winner race but That’s
Critical got away cleanly and quickly rounded up the
leaders on the first turn.
He scored by four and a half lengths from Cooga Star
with one and a half lengths to third placegetter Dixie
Dunbar providing trainer Pat Madden and
Warrnambool owner Phillip Mitchem with their
biggest thrill in greyhound racing.
“It’s fantastic,” Mitchem said. “It’s an event we’ve
always dreamed about winning and we’ve won it.”
Mitchem said That’s Critical had run faster than his
25.31-sec time but he knew the dog would have to
perform close to his best to have a chance.
There was an immense sense of satisfaction for the
Warrnambool owner who said it was his greatest win
in 30 years racing greyhounds.
It was also a popular result with the big crowd,
although favourite punters were left lamenting the
performance of Prince Assassin which finished
unplaced. That’s Critical took his race record to 10
wins and three minor placings from 14 starts. He is
unbeaten in four starts over 450m at Wannon Park,
with a best time of 25.15.